A New Gym for the Volleyball Team
photo by Jaclyn DeVries
By reading Gary Mack's book "Mind Gym" together as a team this semester, the Lee Flames volleyball team is "hitting the gym" in more ways than one.
Assistant Coach Bryan Carvalho, suggested that the team read “Mind Gym” to help strengthen their mental game during practice and games. The book focuses on showing how mental practice is just as important as physical practice.
“A lot of the time working with female athletes, their minds get really clouded,” Carvalho said. “What I want them to take away from this is that you can actually control your emotions, you can control your actions.”
Players were asked to read the book in August 2016 and said it has helped them to strengthen themselves mentally.
Sophomore Makayla Beebe believes the book not only taught her more about mental training, but also reassured her of what she had been taught previously.
“The mental part of the game is a huge part of the game especially in volleyball,” Beebe said. “I’ve always been taught to stay positive and have control of your emotions, and so that is what this book has been all about.”
Players keep a journal to reflect on what they read and also on each of their practices.
Junior Brooke Wilsman said “Reset," one of the focuses of the book, has helped her to focus less on mistakes and more on her abilities and giving her confidence.
“With ‘Reset’ we are focusing on the next play and resetting from the mistakes,” Wilsman said. “It’s reassuring of what I knew but also a new way of looking at it to help me as a player.”
Wilsman recommends the book to everyone looking to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.
“Mind Gym isn’t just for athletes who are performing. You could use Mind Gym in your everyday life as a non-athlete,” Wilsman said. “The book is very simple and easy to read, but it has some really good thoughts that help you think through and develop as an individual."
